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a collection of literature from poets, bards, songwriters, and skalds in the SCA

Ois une vois douce chantant

olivier's picture
olivier
Poem (Canso): 

Ois une vois douce chantant
En le pasture frais virdeant.
Sentis aussitot toz la joi
Mais de dolor eut nul ne poi.
Ele qui beneït m’ame
Dansa sous le myrte, ma dame.
Porta fleures en ses cheveu:
Ou vois a joïr de ma dreu.

Translation: 

I heard a sweet voice singing
Upon the fresh green pasture.
I felt at once every joy
But had not a single sorrow.
She who blesses my soul
Danced beneath the myrtle, my lady.
She wore flowers in her hair:
Now I go to rejoice of my sweetheart.

Documentation / Explanation (Razo): 

This piece is the tenth in a series of poems dedicated to my good friend (and patroness) Maitresse Aenor d'Anjou. When I entered into her service (and the service of her lord and husband, Master Efenwealt Wystle), one of our agreements was that I would compose poems in her honor. What is more medieval, I thought (and still think!) then to write love poems to a married noblewoman? As a result, I have been trying to write at least one poem a month for her. I have also attempted to make these poems work as songs by coupling the lyrics with existing tunes (technically called contrafacta). See my list of poems for the other chansons in this series.

This poem is based in content upon the Minnesinger piece "Ich hôrt ûf der heide (I heard on the meadow)" by Heinrich von Morungen (fl.1190s). Heinrich's song is three seven-line stanzas long with a ABABBBB pattern. Being a much simpler-minded fellow, I opted for a single eight-line AABBCCDD stanza that incorporated what I felt was the essence of Heinrich's song. I also was unsure of Heinrich's meter, so I followed the fairly common (for troubadours and trouveres) octosyllabic plan, which I feel is easiest to later match up with a melody in case anyone ever wants to sing it. I'm rather fond of the melody to "Non es meravelha s'eu chan" by Bernart de Ventadorn (and I don't think I've matched up this melody with any other of my songs), so I'll probably try learning to sing it to that.